COLIN OSBORNE ended Mervyn King's hopes in the Blue Square UK Open with a thrilling last 16 triumph.
Osborne had earlier knocked out Dutch teenage star Michael van Gerwen, and denied King a first PDC major with an 11-10 sixth round win.
King led early on but Osborne moved clear from 5-all to 8-5 and also led 10-8.
King hit back to level - with Osborne missing the bullseye for a 132 finish and the match in the penultimate leg.
Derby thrower Osborne looked to have blown his chance with some poor scoring in the deciding leg, but he regained his composure to finally land double seven for the win after King missed three darts for victory.
"I'm very relieved," admitted Osborne. "I thought I'd blown my chance in that final leg but I managed to keep it together and hit the double seven.
"It's all experience for me and it's been a memorable day for me. Hopefully I can go all the way now."
He is joined in the last eight by Colin Lloyd, who edged out Essex rival Kevin Painter 11-9 in a thriller.
Painter took an early 4-1 cushion but Lloyd landed finishes of 167, 127 and 116 on his way to the win.
"Ive grafted and worked hard," said Lloyd, who earlier knocked out Dennis Smith and Andy Smith. "I've had three tough games today and am looking forward to Sunday.
"Myself and Kevin are great buddies and I would have loved him to hit the nine-darter - but I went up there to win.
"It's a while since I've been in a televised quarter-final and it's very exciting. It's a tough format but it sorts out the men from the boys!"
Steve Hine and Alan Green joined the duo in the last eight following 11-8 wins over Colin Monk and Darren Webster.
Hine came from 8-4 down to take the win, while Green also trailed in the early part of the match before booking his place in a first major quarter-final.
Update from second round of games
Phil Taylor's winning run against long-term rival Dennis Priestley continued as he remained on course for a third UK Open title with an 11-3 romp.
Taylor never looked in trouble after taking a 4-0 lead, and dropped only three legs in marking into the quarters with a 104.38 average.
Raymond van Barneveld kept up his challenge to retain the title with an 11-5 defeat of plucky Wayne Jones, taking out 164 and 114 in the final two legs to take the win.
Vincent van der Voort's dream run continued with an 11-5 win over Richie Burnett.
The Dutchman produced a superb mid-game burst to surge clear of Burnett to 10-3 in avenging the Welshman's win over his stable-mate Jelle Klaasen earlier in the day.
Holsten Premier League Darts finalist Terry Jenkins remains on course for a third major final inside 12 months after his 11-4 win over Mark Dudbridge, producing his most impressive win of the day.
Sixth Round
Board One
Kevin Painter 9-11 Colin Lloyd
Dennis Priestley 3-11 Phil Taylor
Board Two
Colin Osborne 11-10 Mervyn King
Raymond van Barneveld 11-5 Wayne Jones
Board Three
Steve Hine 11-8 Colin Monk
Mark Dudbridge 4-11 Terry Jenkins
Board Four
Darren Webster 8-11 Alan Green
Vincent van der Voort 11-5 Richie Burnett
Quarter-Final Draw
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Colin Lloyd v Steve Hine
Vincent van der Voort v Terry Jenkins
Colin Osborne v Alan Green
Quarter-Finals onwards to be played in bracket format